Instead of providing official development assistance (ODA) capital for Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, Denmark will develop commercial ties between the two countries in this sector from this year.
According to Nguyen Thi Thu Hang from the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam, this new cooperation model in the aquaculture sector is considered a shift from offering ODA to building a commercial partnership which benefits both sides.
There will be seven Danish enterprises coming to Vietnam in the coming time to introduce clean fish farming models. If Vietnamese enterprises buy such models, they will be offered with financial supports in technology transfer.
If the number of orders buying machines and equipment of Denmark is high, the Danish government and Vietnam will set up Vietnam-Denmark Aquaculture Technology Transfer Center (VDATEC) to be based in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.
Vitadec will develop fish and shrimp farming areas using Denmark’s technologies. Besides, the center will offer training courses for Vietnamese enterprises in building material areas meeting international standards such as GlobalGAP (Good Agricultural Practice) and ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council).
Denmark offered over US$100 million in ODA for Vietnam’s aquaculture in the 1993-2012 period.